How to Make the Most of LSE Summer School

When I arrived in London for LSE Summer School, I was full of excitement. I had just spent a week travelling around the Croatian islands and felt very ready to finally land in my favourite city to study Politics at one of the world’s leading universities.

One of the first thing I noticed about LSE Summer School was that it was a haven for students exactly like myself: overachievers. Everyone I met during my first few days wanted to get everything they possibly could out of their time in London, whether that meant excelling academically, making new friends and connections, or experiencing everything London’s social scene has to offer. Me? I wanted to do it all.

My LSE Summer School checklist:

• Learn as much as possible in my course and finish with a strong grade.

• Attend as many SPARK events as possible and get my SPARK micro-accreditation badge.

• Become a Summer School Ambassador.

• Make as many friends as possible from around the world.

• Go to a West End show.

• See all the famous sights in London.

• Visit at least four different markets.

• Try a traditional Sunday roast.

• Visit both Oxford and Cambridge.

• Immerse myself in the Summer School social activities, (in particular, attend the boat party!)

• See what a Saturday night out in London is really like.

• Try as many different Matcha Lattes as possible.

• Come home with as many memories as I can, and zero regrets.

Spoiler alert, I managed to do it all!

That said, my checklist was most definitely ambitious, and it wasn’t by sheer luck that I managed to complete it all. It took planning, organisation and learning how to pace myself to make the most of everything on offer, while still having enough energy left for a group trip around Greece after Summer School.

Here’s my guide to making the most out of Summer School without burning out.

Step 1: Know your workload

The academic side of Summer School is very demanding. By nature, the courses are intensive and require a lot of in-person instruction alongside independent work, including readings, summative assignments, and exam preparation.

Before arriving in London, I found it useful to familiarise myself with the workload of the course. I looked at the expected amount of preparation work required for each module and the amount of contact hours; information which was readily available on the relevant course website. This meant there were no surprises about how much time I’d have to dedicate to academics.

Step 2: Master your time management

Time management is your best friend during Summer School! Planning my days and weeks in advance was the main reason I was able to get so much out of my experience in London.

The minute you know the date and time of something, put it in your calendar. My favourite apps to use are Minical and Notion. Add everything into your calendar – from your lectures, seminars, SPARK events, to your allotted lunch time, matcha dates, and dinner reservations. This helps calm the chaos that can build up quickly when you’ve got so much to do and see. Having everything planned out in front of you also makes it easier to realistically fit things in and it ensures you don’t forget anything important.

Step 3: Prioritising your health

Say it with me: sleep is important. Try to get as much as you can, ideally eight hours a night! Keep a nighttime and a morning routine that you stick to everyday – this helps with the decision fatigue that can come with such a hectic schedule.

It’s also important to make time for your physical and mental wellbeing. That could mean going for a walk, practicing mindfulness, or getting in a session at the gym. Lastly, your nutrition is important, so make sure that you’re eating enough, and eating regularly.

Step 4: Find your people

My last tip is a simple one: make friends! This is so easy to do at LSE Summer School because, in my experience, everyone is so like-minded. Having people around you keeps your spirits up, and studying in groups is always more enjoyable than studying alone.

Final thoughts

Summer School was one of the most special experiences of my life, and I’m incredibly grateful that I was able to pack so much into my three weeks in London. It’s a community and opportunity like no other, and you won’t regret giving it your all.

If I can do it, so can you. Best of luck!